Injury Crisis Grips Atlético Madrid as Diego Simeone Navigates Major Absences Ahead of Elche Clash

Diego Simeone faces an injury crisis as Atlético Madrid heads to Elche without Lookman, Sørloth, and Gimenez following a grueling 120-minute cup final.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 10:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from YSScores

A High Price for Cup Final Fatigue

The fallout from Atlético Madrid's penalty shootout loss to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday has left the squad in a precarious physical state. After 120 minutes of high-intensity football that ended in a 2-2 draw, the "Rojiblancos" are showing signs of extreme fatigue. The medical staff has reported that the sheer volume of minutes played is forcing a rotation policy for the upcoming midweek La Liga fixture, as the coaching staff prioritizes the health of the remaining squad members.

Offensive Firepower Sidelined by Injury

The most significant blow to Simeone’s plans is the confirmed absence of Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman and Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth. Lookman, who has been instrumental since his January arrival from Atalanta with seven goals, was withdrawn during the cup final after sustaining discomfort. Sørloth, the team's primary target man with 10 league goals this season, is also ruled out of the Elche match and the subsequent weekend fixture against Athletic Bilbao. Both players have been placed on individualized recovery plans to avoid long-term muscular damage.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and Individual Training

The injury list extends into the defensive unit, with Jose Maria Gimenez and David Hancko both unavailable for the trip to the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero. Gimenez’s absence continues to plague the backline’s consistency, while Hancko’s injury removes a versatile left-sided option. Adding to the concern, Matteo Ruggeri has been limited to individual gym sessions this week, leaving Simeone with a skeleton defense. The technical staff is closely monitoring Ruggeri's progress, hoping to avoid a total defensive collapse before the European semi-finals.